Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) #2527552
07/26/18 07:54 PM
07/26/18 07:54 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 174
Central Illinois
Don_440 Offline OP
member
Don_440  Offline OP
member

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 174
Central Illinois
Has anyone done this using ford crown vic hubs and explorer rotors.From what i can tell ,you have to press stud out of spindle and have it machined,but nobody give dimensions or if you need spacer for rotor/brake caliper alignment and new axles for rear of course,really wanting the 4x4.5 bolt circle.

Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: Don_440] #2527639
07/26/18 10:44 PM
07/26/18 10:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,486
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,486
Freeport IL USA
I assume what you really want it the 5 on 4 1/2" bolt circle.

Maybe you can get the 5 bolt spindles by swapping everything between the ball joints, but I haven't done it, or even compared to see if the suspensions are even close to being the same. It might be cheaper to have the 6 bolt stuff re-drilled to the 5 bolt stuff, but I suspect there may be issues with some of the wheel stud holes since the 6 bolt stuff is also on a 4 1/2" circle. I think your opening up a can of worms, but if you succeed, please let us all know what you did, with the needed part numbers. I'm sure others will appreciate you venturing into this unknown area.

I would swap out the entire rear end for something with the correct bolt pattern, or buy aftermarket axles for your rear end, if you have a 9 1/4. I wouldn't bother with any smaller rear, just swap it out with something that has the bolt pattern you want. Gene

Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: poorboy] #2527683
07/27/18 12:32 AM
07/27/18 12:32 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 174
Central Illinois
Don_440 Offline OP
member
Don_440  Offline OP
member

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 174
Central Illinois
I have taken my stock front hubs to my machinist,ran in on cad said there is no way to convert bolt circle,unless you plug weld holes and redrill(not happening on cast hub liabity issues).He suggested mustang 2 spindles and probably having to ream holes (tapered)where ball joints go thru.Checked with moser said they plug welded and drill but no more and i know i have seen 5 lug wheels on front of dakotas in stock/superstock,but i might go to boneyard and get measurement off crown vic spindle stud. I know for sure dakota spindle stud is bigger than ford.Rearend is a 9 1/4 out of durango with shock mounts moved. Don

Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: Don_440] #2527863
07/27/18 01:22 PM
07/27/18 01:22 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,358
Iowa
burdar Online work
Owen's Dad
burdar  Online Work
Owen's Dad

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,358
Iowa
So I assume parts from the late 80's to 91 Dakotas with the 5 bolt lugs won't work?

Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: burdar] #2528052
07/27/18 08:25 PM
07/27/18 08:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 174
Central Illinois
Don_440 Offline OP
member
Don_440  Offline OP
member

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 174
Central Illinois
You are correct,Today i called mccormack motorsports (their dakota runs in class cars}Very nice to talk to,they informed me that their hub assemblies were specially made(jims transmission?}and he had retired and moved and they run 8 3/4 rear end.So i will try to get to boneyard this weekend for dimensions. Don

Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: Don_440] #2528364
07/28/18 06:48 PM
07/28/18 06:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,618
Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel Offline
Too Many Posts
John_Kunkel  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,618
Rio Linda, CA
Originally Posted By Don_440
I have taken my stock front hubs to my machinist,ran in on cad said there is no way to convert bolt circle,unless you plug weld holes and redrill(not happening on cast hub liabity issues).


Perhaps not plugged by welding, but the holes could be threaded and plugged to make a new surface to drill the five new stud holes. Labor intensive and expensive


The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: Don_440] #2528401
07/28/18 08:37 PM
07/28/18 08:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,189
Michigan
begood Offline
super stock
begood  Offline
super stock

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,189
Michigan
Contact a company called 1320 Wheels, they can make up 5 lug hubs for the Dakota.


THERE IS NO SUCH THING, AS TOO MUCH HORSEPOWER
Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: Don_440] #2535841
08/13/18 08:54 PM
08/13/18 08:54 PM
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,260
New Mexico
A
Adobedude Offline
pro stock
Adobedude  Offline
pro stock
A

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,260
New Mexico
Moser plugged and drilled my front hubs.


2001 Dodge Dakota
408 All Motor
11.27 @ 117.83 mph
2017 NM Mopar Challenge Series Champion.
Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: Don_440] #2535950
08/14/18 12:35 AM
08/14/18 12:35 AM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,042
colorado
S
savoy64 Offline
top fuel
savoy64  Offline
top fuel
S

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,042
colorado
i would look at a hub/rotor off a c-body----get a new set of bearings and races for the dakota and the c-body and compare them---you can return after inspection.....

Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: Don_440] #2536159
08/14/18 01:58 PM
08/14/18 01:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,716
541 slobovia
A990 Online content
master
A990  Online Content
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,716
541 slobovia
97 Dakotas have stepped spindles. When the bearings wear out you replace the hub.
If a C body hub worked, someone could make a decent living selling conversion kits.

Back around 2010 or so, a guy was carving new billet hubs set up for 5 lug, and used replaceable bearings too.

Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: A990] #2536266
08/14/18 05:02 PM
08/14/18 05:02 PM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,042
colorado
S
savoy64 Offline
top fuel
savoy64  Offline
top fuel
S

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,042
colorado
so the dakota spindle looks like the ford crown vic one?

Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: A990] #2536280
08/14/18 05:21 PM
08/14/18 05:21 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 174
Central Illinois
Don_440 Offline OP
member
Don_440  Offline OP
member

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 174
Central Illinois
Thanks for the replays,I did call 1320 and he said he could make some,preferred he buy hubs and machine them,aslo call moser today and they can do them also but would like to see hubs first,cannot do them if wheel studs are recessed in convex (backside)of hub, I did get to yard to measure crown vic spindle shaft 1.457dia, x 1.937 long(flat surface where spindle nut tightens),anybody khow 97/98 dakota spindle measurement?Youtube shows short clip of man named brandon burns making hubs,

Re: 6 lug to 5 lug conversion on 97 dakota(front) [Re: Don_440] #2555605
09/27/18 05:16 PM
09/27/18 05:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,043
State of Confusion
hp383 Offline
Just a normal tag again
hp383  Offline
Just a normal tag again

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,043
State of Confusion
Have you looked at using 2wd D150 rotors from about 1984

I know those fit the 91-96 first gen 6 lug spindles, since guys using the Dakota drop spindles on their trucks use them.

But I dont know about the 97


Join the Penguin Liberation Front!!
Stop the Hippo Occupation!






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1